Grammar & Usage

1. Grammar & Usage Unit 6 The gerund 6.1 The gerund and its forms 6.2 Use of gerunds 6.3 Gerunds in expressions 6.4 Use of determiners before the gerund Grammar Practice Part A Part B Part C Part D Part E Language Practice Part A Part B

2. 6.1 The gerund and its forms When -ing forms are used like nouns, they are called gerunds. The gerund has four forms: simple active, simple passive, perfect active and perfect passive. Teacher’s notes P.45

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5. 1 We often use the simple instead of the perfect form in spoken context. For example, instead of saying: I regrethaving made that remark. We usually say: I regretmaking that remark. P.45

6. 2 After the verbs need, require, want (= need) and deserve, we use the active form even though the meaning is passive. Your car needswashing. Compare:Your car needsto be washed. 3 The negative is formed by adding not before the gerund. He admittednottellingus the truth. P.45

7. 6.2 Use of gerunds Gerunds may be used as subjects, objects or objects of prepositions: P.45

8. Gerunds may be used … Examples as subjects Readingis my hobby. When we are talking about a particular action, we usually use an infinitive. To read this book without a dictionaryis difficult. P.45

9. Gerunds may be used … Examples as the object of some verbs We all enjoy readinga good book. Verbs that take a gerund as an object include: admit avoid consider delay deny keep (= continue) fancy finish imagine enjoy mind stand (= bear) miss dislike feel like suggest risk postpone P.45

10. Gerunds may be used … Examples as the object of a preposition After prepositions, we normally use the gerund. She is fond of reading. P.46

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13. 6.3 Gerunds in expressions The gerund is used in following expressions: P.46

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17. Gerunds Examples go + gerund (go swimming/ hiking/camping/ shopping, etc.) I’m free this afternoon. Let’s go shopping. Compare:She did some shopping this afternoon. We often use go + -ing with outdoor activities (go swimming/ camping/sailing/hiking, etc.) and do + the/some + -ing with housework (do the cooking/washing- up/cleaning, etc.). P.46

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19. We can use determiners such as possessive adjectives (my, our, your, his, her, their, etc.) before the gerund. Do you mindmy joining you on the trip? 6.4 Use of determiners before the gerund P.47

20. Grammar Practice Complete the following sentences by choosing from the words listed on the right. The first one has been done for you. P.47

21. to talk 1 Where’s Tom? I need _______________ to him. 2 I couldn’t help _______________ as I recalled Helen’s joke. 3 ‘This case deserves _______________ into,’ the detective said. 4 ______________ is good for your health. to talk/talking to smile/smiling to look/looking To swim/ Swimming smiling looking Swimming P.47

22. 5 In addition to _______________ a good scolding, he was grounded for a week. 6 She was annoyed at _______________ waiting. 7 I had second thoughts about ______________ a new mobile phone. 8 As business was bad, employees were afraid of _______________ off. giving/ being given keeping/ being kept to buy/buying laying/being laid being given being kept buying being laid P.47

23. being 9 Some of the miners escaped __________ _______________ alive in the coal mine explosion. 10 I wonder how she managed __________ _______________ him. to bury/ being buried to convince/ convincing buried to convince P.47

24. Some of the underlined verbs in the following sentences have not been used correctly. Write the correction above the word(s). If the sentence is correct, put a ‘ ’ at the end of the sentence. The first two have been done for you.  P.48

25. playing 1 My sister practises to play the piano every day. 2 I don’t like to be kept in the dark about what’s going on. 3 Has she finished talking on the phone? 4 Sam kept nodding his head as he listened. 5 Do you think the new film is worth to watch?    watching P.48

26. to interrupt 6 I’m sorry interrupting you, but could you spare a minute? 7 It’s hot in here. Would you mind to open the window? 8 She’s friends with them both, so she wants to avoid involving in their argument. 9 Your hair needs to cut, Tom. 10 How can we prevent this from happening again? opening being involved cutting  P.48

27. 11 Bella dislikes to be treated as a child. 12 Hurry up, Paul. I don’t want to risk to miss the school bus. being treated missing P.48

28. Complete each sentence using the given words. The first one has been done for you. P.48

29. 1spend - a lot of time - read Brian’s very interested in English literature. He __________ _____________________________________ in the library. 2 often - go - cycle Ted _____________________________________________ ________________________________________ in Tai Po. spends a lot of time reading often goes cycling P.48

30. 3look forward to - hear - her We haven’t had an email from her for some time now. We ________________________________________________ soon. 4 deny - have - anything - do He said he was innocent. He _________________________ ____________________________________ with the crime. look forward to hearing from her denied having anything to do P.48

31. 5can’t imagine - go I’m afraid of heights. I _____________________________ __________________________________ rock climbing. 6 delay - respond to - it This letter is urgent. Please don’t _____________________ ___________________________________ . can’t imagine going delay responding to it P.49

32. 7not - want - risk - be She set her alarm clock before going to bed. She _________ ________________________________________________ late for her job interview. 8 be - against - smoke He _____________________________________________ in public places. did not want to risk being is against smoking P.49

33. Join each of the sentence pairs below using the words in brackets or with reference to the instruction. The first one has been done for you. P.49

34. 1 He came into the room. He did not knock. (without) He ____________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 2 She checked the restaurant bill. Then she paid for it. (Begin with the given word.) After __________________________________________ _______________________________________________ came into the room without knocking. checking the restaurant bill, she paid for it. P.49

35. 3 He didn’t apologise. He blamed us for his mistake instead. (Begin with the given words.) Instead of _______________________________________ _______________________________________________ 4 She exercised every day. This way she managed to keep fit. (by) She managed ____________________________________ _______________________________________________ apologising, he blamed us for his mistake. to keep fit byexercising every day. P.49

36. 5 He wanted to try again. He insisted. (Begin with the given words.) He insisted ______________________________________ _______________________________________________ 6 He can treat all sorts of eye problems. It’s his speciality. (as) He is good ______________________________________ _______________________________________________ on trying again. at treating all sorts of eye problems, as it’s his speciality. P.49

37. 7 He took the money. He admitted it. (confessed) He ____________________________________________ _______________________________________________ confessed to taking/having taken the money. P.49

38. Some of the following sentences are correct, while some contain one mistake. Correct the mistakes. Your corrections should be done as follows: P.50

39. incorrect word/form - underline the incorrect word, then write the correct form of the word above it missing word - mark the position of the missing word with a ‘^’ sign, then write the missing word above it extra word - put a cross ‘’ on the word you wish to cross out no mistake - put a tick ‘’ at the end of each sentence P.50

40. The first four have been done for you. handling 1 Her duties include handle enquiries and ticketing. 2 She was afraid telling her parents what had happened. 3 Besides of reading, he enjoys playing Chinese checkers. 4 These plants need watering. of ^   P.50

41. passing working  5 In the long run, it pays to buy better quality items. 6 The construction worker escaped buried alive in the landslide. 7 I’m confident of pass the examination. 8 As well as worked part-time at a fast-food restaurant, she completed a computer course during her summer break. being ^ P.50

42. taking 9 In addition to take photographs, she enjoys fishing in her spare time. 10 I’m annoyed about he forgetting our appointment. 11 Would it help to discuss about the matter again? 12 Emma is far from satisfied with her examination results. his   P.50

43. that of ^ 13 She suspected the shopkeeper cheating her. 14 There’s no denying of he is the most popular Canto-pop singer in Hong Kong. 15 We went to primary school together.  P.50

44. Language Practice Complete the following conversation between Billy and Sandy by using one suitable word for each of the blanks. The first one has been done for you. P.51

45. camping Billy Hey, Sandy, James and I are going (1) tomorrow. Would you like to (2) with us? Sandy I’d love to, but I have to do some tidying up tomorrow. My parents are (3)from their holiday. Billy When do you (4)them to arrive home? (1) ____________ (2) ____________ (3) ____________ (4) ____________ come returning expect P.51

46. Sandy Around three in the afternoon. Why? Billy Well, we won’t be (5) until around five. I’ll help you with the cleaning in the morning, then you’ll be able to join us! Sandy That’s very kind of you, but my parents would be (6) if I arranged to go as soon as they got back. (5) ____________ (6) ____________ leaving disappointed P.51

47. Billy In that case, I won’t (7) that you join us. I’ll still come around tomorrow morning to help, though. Sandy Thanks again Billy, but please don’t (8). I can (9) it by myself. Billy I know, but ... . (7) ____________ (8) ____________ (9) ____________ insist bother/worry do/manage P.51

48. Sandy You’d be better off (10) for the camping trip. You don’t want to risk (11) anything behind, do you? Billy I guess you’re right. Perhaps we can catch up sometime next week? Sandy That’d be great. (10) ____________ (11) ____________ preparing/ packing leaving P.51

49. Aron Ralston is a keen mountain climber. Read the following passage about one of his adventures and then complete the short text that follows with appropriate expressions and words. The first one has been done for you. P.52

50. Mountain climbing is a risky sport. Many climbers have lost their lives in climbing accidents, but people keep returning to mountains all over the world in an attempt to climb them. Aron Ralston is one such person. Though forced to cut his own arm off to save his life during a climbing trip, Ralston is still passionate about the sport. The accident took place in April, 2003. Ralston was holding onto a rock while climbing a cliff near Canyonlands National Park in Utah, when the 800-pound rock rolled and trapped his right arm against the cliff face. Ralston made several attempts to escape but was forced to wait for help. P.52